Syrians (but not all) go to the polls to elect the first post-Assad Parliament

Today's headlines: China and India will resume direct flights by October after a five-year hiatus; The South Korean president calls on Pyongyang to resume meetings between families separated by the war;  At least eight people killed in four days of anti-government protests in Pakistani Kashmir; In Vietnam, the death toll from Typhoon Bualoi rises to 51, with damage estimated at over €500 million.

SYRIA

Syrians are called to the polls on 5 October to elect the first Parliament since the fall of Bashar al-Assad and the rise to power of the HTS militias led by interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa. This is a fundamental step, but one that fuels fears about inclusiveness because several areas of the country are excluded, part of the Assembly has already been chosen, and it comes amid sectarian violence against Druze, Alawites and Christians. The election, which aims to bring 14 years of war to an end, is indirect, with regional constituencies comprising a total of 6,000 eligible voters ready to choose two-thirds of the 210-seat parliament. A committee appointed by Sharaa has approved 1,570 candidates. Meanwhile, some sources report that Assad has survived an attempted poisoning and, in recent days, has left the hospital where he was being treated in “stable” condition.

CHINA - INDIA

Beijing and Delhi will resume direct flights this month, ending a suspension of more than five years and confirming a cautious easing of bilateral tensions. Since 2020, there have been no non-stop flights between the two Asian giants, even though China is India's main trading partner. IndiGo will launch daily non-stop flights between Kolkata and Guangzhou on 26 October and is planning a route between the Chinese metropolis and the Indian capital Delhi. Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi have stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability along the disputed border, where a military standoff has been ongoing for five years.

KOREA

Pyongyang should consider resuming reunions of families separated during the Korean War from 1950 to 1953 as part of humanitarian cooperation measures between neighbours. This was stated today by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on the eve of the Chuseok holiday, hoping for an easing of hostilities and a resumption of cooperation between countries.

PAKISTAN

At least eight people (including three police officers and five civilians) have been killed in four days of protests in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, with citizens taking to the streets to demand an end to the privileges of local politicians and greater social justice. The violence erupted on 30 September when thousands of people from nearby towns gathered in the capital Muzafarabad to demonstrate against the government. For days, the authorities have cut off telephone connections and internet access, while businesses, schools and transport have been disrupted.

VIETNAM

The death toll in Vietnam from Typhoon Bualoi and the floods it triggered has risen to 51, according to a government report released yesterday. The Central Bank has mandated the country's institutions to support businesses affected by the natural disaster. Meanwhile, the Civil Protection Agency has increased its estimate of property damage to over €513 million, compared to €371 million in the report published the previous day.

IRAQ

Iraqi authorities have recovered over 40,000 ancient artefacts stolen and smuggled out of the country over the last four years, enriching the collections of private collectors around the world. According to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities, some artefacts are “very rare and priceless”, including the Gilgamesh painting dating back to 3500 BC and the Sumerian Ram dating back to 4500 BC. The artefacts have been looted and vandalised since the US invasion in 2003 and in 2014 after ISIS took control of large swathes of the north and west.

RUSSIA - TAIWAN

In the first half of 2025, Taiwan became the world leader in purchasing naphtha from Russia. The fuel is resold to various countries, including those in Western Europe that support sanctions against Moscow's oil extraction, as demonstrated by an investigation by environmental agencies including the Centre for Research on Energy, Clean Air, Environmental Rights Foundation and others.

KAZAKHSTAN

The head of the atomic energy agency, Almasadam Satkaliev, announced a new development strategy for the uranium sector, seeking to strike an optimal balance between the interests of investors and the long-term interests of the state. The aim is to create a “low-enriched uranium fuel bank”, while preserving part of the country's uranium reserves “for future generations”.

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